Here is how these two tents compare on the numbers. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Zpacks Duplex | Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 86✓ | 86 |
| Capacity | 2 | 2 |
| Packed weight | 17.8 oz✓ | 19.2 oz |
| Floor area | 28.1 sq ft | 32.5 sq ft✓ |
| Space-to-weight | 25.3 /lb | 27.1 /lb✓ |
| Peak height | 48 in | 49 in✓ |
| Doors | 2 | 2 |
| Vestibules | 2 | 2 |
| Price | $749 | $719✓ |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Duplex in blue, X-Mid Pro 2+ in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full tent comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Zpacks Duplex against the Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ is a study in priorities. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Duplex is 1 oz lighter. The X-Mid Pro 2+ is more floor area (32.5 vs 28.1 sq ft), better space-to-weight, and taller (49 vs 48 in peak). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (86 vs 86), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Duplex if you care most about low weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the X-Mid Pro 2+ if floor space and space-to-weight matter more to you, or you are focused on comfort and room to move.
The Zpacks Duplex. It is 1 oz lighter than the X-Mid Pro 2+.
The Durston X-Mid Pro 2+. It is more floor area (32.5 vs 28.1 sq ft) than the Duplex.
They are nearly tied at 86 and 86 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Duplex for low weight, or the X-Mid Pro 2+ for floor space. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.